Better Jacksonville Plan
Encyclopedia
The Better Jacksonville Plan is a growth management plan implemented by the city of Jacksonville
, Florida
. It was the signature project of Mayor John Delaney
. It was approved by Jacksonville voters on September 5, 2000. Lex Hester
was a key advisor to Delaney on the $2.25 billion package of projects, pushing for the inclusion of a new downtown library, then serving on the team of top administrators charged with making the far-reaching plan work. The BJP was codified as Section 761
of Jacksonville's Code of Ordinances and administered by the City of Jacksonville, the JEA
, and the Jacksonville Transportation Authority
, in cooperation with the Florida Department of Transportation
. A Sunset provision
will terminate the half-penny sales tax used as part of funding the program, to be completed around 2010, no later than 2030.
A six-lane vehicular overpass will be constructed to replace the existing ground-level railroad crossing. This will help alleviate traffic delays caused at this crossing by passing trains.
A pedestrian overpass has been constructed to bridge three sets of railroad tracks at this location, providing residents safe passage over this busy crossing.
A pedestrian overpass has been constructed to span the existing single-track railroad crossing, presenting walkers and runners with a continuous route over the track.
In 2003 Mayor John Delaney
left office, and was succeeded by John Peyton
. Construction had been authorized to commence at the original $190 million amount, but concerns over rising costs caused Peyton to stop work on the courthouse complex on October 28, 2004. At the same time, the mayor's office confirmed a $759 million shortage in Better Jacksonville Plan funding. The office cited rising construction costs as part of the reason for the budget deficit. Afterward all work on the complex ceased for several years. In 2008, the Jacksonville City Council
approved work on the facility for a contractor guaranteed cost of $350 million.
Construction actually began in May 2009, with more than 400 workers engaged for over a year. As of June 27, 2010, construction was 37% completed, with the final pour of the concrete roof above the seventh floor. The completion date was established at May 2012, nearly a year later than Mayor Peyton hoped, but the project was within budget.
The City's website stated on February 18, 2011 that interior construction of major systems was on schedule and 55% of the total project was complete, with the exterior work nearly finished.
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. It was the signature project of Mayor John Delaney
John Delaney
John Adrian Delaney is an American lawyer, politician and university administrator. He currently serves as the president of the University of North Florida. A member of the Republican Party, he served as mayor of Jacksonville, Florida from 1995 to 2003...
. It was approved by Jacksonville voters on September 5, 2000. Lex Hester
Lex Hester
Lewis Alexander Hester, III was a public administrator in Jacksonville, Florida. He "was the consummate no-nonsense administrator, the very best in his field,” according to M. C...
was a key advisor to Delaney on the $2.25 billion package of projects, pushing for the inclusion of a new downtown library, then serving on the team of top administrators charged with making the far-reaching plan work. The BJP was codified as Section 761
of Jacksonville's Code of Ordinances and administered by the City of Jacksonville, the JEA
JEA
JEA , located in Jacksonville, Florida, is the eighth largest community-owned electric utility company in the United States and largest in Florida. As of 2009, JEA serves more than 417,000 electric customers, 305,000 water customers and 230,000 sewer customers. Besides Jacksonville , JEA also has...
, and the Jacksonville Transportation Authority
Jacksonville Transportation Authority
The Jacksonville Transportation Authority is the independent agency responsible for public transit in the city of Jacksonville, Florida, and roadway infrastructure that connects northeast Florida. However, they do not maintain any roadways.-History:...
, in cooperation with the Florida Department of Transportation
Florida Department of Transportation
The Florida Department of Transportation is a decentralized agency charged with the establishment, maintenance, and regulation of public transportation in the state of Florida. The department was formed in 1969. It absorbed the powers of the Florida State Road Department...
. A Sunset provision
Sunset provision
In public policy, a sunset provision or clause is a measure within a statute, regulation or other law that provides that the law shall cease to have effect after a specific date, unless further legislative action is taken to extend the law...
will terminate the half-penny sales tax used as part of funding the program, to be completed around 2010, no later than 2030.
Resurfacing
The Better Jacksonville Plan financed $105 million to resurface streets in Jacksonville that had not been paved since 1985. The Department of Public Works paved nearly 1,800 miles of streets before it ended in September, 2007. The plan also financed $20 million to fund construction of new neighborhood sidewalks.Road Projects
These include widening, adding curbs and stormwater drainage infrastructure.- Butler Blvd./US-1 and Butler Blvd./I-95 Intersections
- University/Beach Intersection
- Salt Marsh (Fanning Island and FIND) Mitigation Sites
- Beaver Street (Devoe to Edgewood)
- Atlantic Boulevard (Girvin/Hodges/San Pablo)
- Atlantic/Kernan Intersection
- Atlantic/Southside Intersection
Railroad grade crossings
- New Kings Road (US 1) - South of 45th Street
A six-lane vehicular overpass will be constructed to replace the existing ground-level railroad crossing. This will help alleviate traffic delays caused at this crossing by passing trains.
- Franklin Street - North of 17th Street
A pedestrian overpass has been constructed to bridge three sets of railroad tracks at this location, providing residents safe passage over this busy crossing.
- 7th Street - Between Harrison and Milnor Streets
A pedestrian overpass has been constructed to span the existing single-track railroad crossing, presenting walkers and runners with a continuous route over the track.
Environmental preservation
- Environmental Clean-up of Ash Sites - $25 million
- Neighborhood Park Improvements - $15 million
- Preservation Project Jacksonville - $50 million The Preservation Project was a series of land grants for parks. In 2003, The Nature Conservancy awarded Mayor Delaney the President's Conservation Achievement Award for his work on the Preservation Project.
- Septic Tank Remediation - $75 million
Targeted economic development
- Jacksonville Equestrian CenterJacksonville Equestrian CenterThe Jacksonville Equestrian Center is an equestrian facility at the Cecil Commerce Center in Jacksonville, Florida. It consists of an indoor multi-purpose arena, officially named Championship Arena , two outdoor competition arenas, two outdoor warm-up arenas, a turf arena, 426 permanent stalls,...
& Cecil Recreation ComplexCecil Recreation ComplexThe Cecil Recreation Complex at the Cecil Commerce Center is a comprehensive recreational facility on the west side of Jacksonville, Florida. The $25 million project was part of the 2000 Better Jacksonville Plan and will eventually include...
- $25 million - Jacksonville Zoo: Range of the Jaguar - $10 million
- Northwest Jacksonville Economic Development Fund - $25 million
New or improved public facilities
- Jacksonville Veterans Memorial ArenaJacksonville Veterans Memorial ArenaThe Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena is a 15,000 seat multi-purpose arena in Jacksonville, Florida. It was built in 2003 as part of Mayor John Delaney's Better Jacksonville Plan to replace the outdated Jacksonville Memorial Coliseum....
- $130 million - Baseball Grounds of JacksonvilleBaseball Grounds of JacksonvilleThe Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville is a baseball park in Jacksonville, Florida. It is the home stadium of the Jacksonville Suns, who play in the Class Double-A Southern League. The facility opened in 2003....
- $34 million - New Main Library - $95 million
- New Library Branches/Renovations - $55 million
- Duval County CourthouseDuval County CourthouseThe Duval County Courthouse is the local courthouse for Duval County, Florida. It houses courtrooms and judges from the Duval County and Fourth Judicial Circuit Courts. The current facility is located in Downtown Jacksonville, Florida; a new facility currently under construction will open in...
- $190 million (see problems, below)
Courthouse problems
The project cost estimates, on which the program was based, were made in the late 1990s, when the price of building materials was relatively stable. Total costs were initially estimated at $190 million.In 2003 Mayor John Delaney
John Delaney
John Adrian Delaney is an American lawyer, politician and university administrator. He currently serves as the president of the University of North Florida. A member of the Republican Party, he served as mayor of Jacksonville, Florida from 1995 to 2003...
left office, and was succeeded by John Peyton
John Peyton (US politician)
John Stephens Peyton is an American businessman and politician. He served as Mayor of Jacksonville, Florida from 2003 to 2011. He was the second Republican to be elected to the position since 1888....
. Construction had been authorized to commence at the original $190 million amount, but concerns over rising costs caused Peyton to stop work on the courthouse complex on October 28, 2004. At the same time, the mayor's office confirmed a $759 million shortage in Better Jacksonville Plan funding. The office cited rising construction costs as part of the reason for the budget deficit. Afterward all work on the complex ceased for several years. In 2008, the Jacksonville City Council
Jacksonville City Council
The Jacksonville City Council is the legislative governing body of the city of Jacksonville, Florida.-Composition:The Jacksonville City Council is composed of nineteen members who are elected to four-year terms and serve as part-time legislators...
approved work on the facility for a contractor guaranteed cost of $350 million.
Construction actually began in May 2009, with more than 400 workers engaged for over a year. As of June 27, 2010, construction was 37% completed, with the final pour of the concrete roof above the seventh floor. The completion date was established at May 2012, nearly a year later than Mayor Peyton hoped, but the project was within budget.
The City's website stated on February 18, 2011 that interior construction of major systems was on schedule and 55% of the total project was complete, with the exterior work nearly finished.